Fly swatter



March 30 1926.

Y J. s. RAIRDEN FLY SWATTER Filed July 2, 1925 Fig-I INVENTOR JC'ZS. 6113a irdelv Patented Mar. 30, 1926.

UNITED sTaTEs PATE r OFF-ICE.

JAMES snAInDnn, or WATERFORD," CALIFORNIA. 5

FLY ,SWATTEB.

7 Application filed July 2, 1925. Serial No. 40,984.

[0 all whom z'tmiag/conccrn: V Y

Be it known that 1, JAMES S. RA1RDEN, a cltizenof'the United States, residing at \Vaterford, county of Stanislaus, State of "0311150111121, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fly Swatters; and

I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the same, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings,

and ,to the characters'of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements,

in fly swatters of the type having a wire mesh swatting element, and particularly represents an improvement over the type of swatter shown in my Patent No. 1,501,- &67, granted me the 15th day of July, 1924.

'The principal object of the present invention is to arrange the'spring elements by means of whichthe'swatting surface is held in elastic orv flexible relation to the handle,

in such a manner that the construction and assembly of. the parts of the devicens rendered much simpler and less expensive 7 without sacrificing anything of efiiciency.

' A further object is to provide oppositely -wound helical spring elements, provided as a single unit and so arranged that no movement or uncolling of one spring Wlll be had when the. other spring is, in tension, and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-section of the same enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation enlarged showing the winding of one of the spring elements on its supporting member.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the handle of the device, preferably made of stiff "wire, and bent in a loop like form with abin-ding sleeve 2 about its upper end. Above the sleeve the wires forming the handle flare in opposite directions to form arms 0n the outer ends swatting element 6.

. quick snapping action of which are upwardly projecting and parallel members 4:. These members 4 are con-r nected at their upper ends by across member ,5. The members l, 3, it, and5 are preferably formed of a single piece ofwire, the ends of which are suitably; connected. and concealed by the sleeve 2.; The member 5 of 7 course is circular incro'ss section, and forms the support and hinge or pivotal rod for the Thiselement is in the form of a rectangular piece of wire meshof suitable size,

bent around the member 5an'd extending upwardly for a certain distance as at .7. The overlapping or abutting portions of the swatting element are clamped together at suitable intervals by wire clips 8.

,Vound aboutthe member 5 adjacentits ends and enclosed by the overlapping portions of the swatting-element are helical spring coils 9. The adjacent ends ofthese coils areconnected byaloop 10 which is disposed between the overlapping portions of the wire mesh and extends nearly. to the vtop of said overlap. The outer or opposite ends of the coils are laterally movably and oppositely engaged with the vertical members4 as shownat 11. v I

,The coils are so wound relativeto the loop and their engagement-with. the members 4 is, such that when the looplmoves around the rod 51in one direction, onecoil will be wound up or placed in tension while the other coil will not be correspondingly unwound but will remain in'its normal slack or neutral position. This is because the portion 11 on said last named spring is-then free to move awayfrom the corresponding member 4:, since it is not tightly heldthereto.

A similar but an opposite action is had of course vwhen the loop is swung in the'other direction.

This prevents any weakening of the springs due to the constant unwinding action which would otherwise be had, When both springs are in neutral or normal condition, the loop lies parallel to the plane of the handle and the swatting element 6 is of course maintained by saidloop in a similar plane.

When manipulating the swatter, only one spring at a time is placed in operation, the other offering no resistance, as above stated. The result is that the element has a very effective in catching and striking flies un awares.

and hence is very From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

\Vhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to asdo not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and usefu l'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

- 1. A fly swatter'including a handle, a rod connected to and extending transversely of "rod connected to and extending transversely of the plane ofthe handle at one end thereof, a swat-ting element turnably mounted on the rod, oppositely acting helical sprin-gs Wound in spaced relation abou tsaid'rod, a

, loop member connecting the ad jacent-ends of the springsand having constant engagement, with the. swatting element beyond the plane of the rod, to maintain the element in normal predetermined alinement relative to the handle, and means whereby vvhen the loop and element are deflected one way or the other about the rod, only one of said springs will be placed in action.

3. A l ly swatter including a handle, a rod connected to and extending transversely of the plane of the handle at one end thereof, a swatting element turnably mounted on the rod, oppositely acting helical springs wound in spaced relation about said rod, a loop member connecting the adjacent ends of the springs and having constant engagement with the swatting element beyond the plane of the rod, to maintain the element iii-normal predetermined ali-nement relative to the handle, and means whereby when the loop and element are deflected one way or the other about the rod,one spring will be placed in tension while the other may freely turn on the rod without becoming unwound beyond its normal neutral position.

l. A fly swatter including a handle, a rod connected to and extending transversely of the plane of the handle at one end thereof, a swatting element turnably mounted on the rod, oppositely acting helical springs wound in spaced relation about said rod, a loop member connecting the ad acent ends of the springs and having constant engagement with the swatting element beyond the plane ofthe rod, to maintain the element in normal predetermined alinemen t relative to the handle, vertical members fixed with the rod at the ends thereof, and projections formed with the adjacent ends of the springs and engaging the vertical members in opposite and laterally 'movable manner, and arranged to bear against said members when the corresponding springs are tension but to move away from said members when the springs are turned beyond their normal slack condition in a direction tending to cause them to unwind.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES S. RAI'REDEN. 

